Safety update for some tried-and-tested iron equipment

The Bauer Group, a manufacturer of irrigation systems for agriculture, owes its global expansion to its so-called lever lock coupling. It is manufactured on a 60-year-old multi-stage press designed in-house, the forming tools on which are tailored precisely to the individual requirements of the production process. Purchasing a new press was not an option. The control technology and safety devices were to be modernised. A safety solution comprising the guard locking device PSENmlock, the control unit PITgatebox and the light curtain PSENopt II provided the safety update on the press as part of a comprehensive retrofit. Today, the multi-stage press once again has state-of-the-art safety technology and meets all the requirements.

In the conveyor infeed and workpiece outfeed area, the multi-stage press is secured with safety gates and safety fences. To ensure that the interlocking and guard locking measures provide reliable protection for operating personnel, the safety locking device PSENmlock – including an integrated actuator and escape release – is used in combination with the pushbutton unit PITgatebox. The latter is needed to operate the safety locking device.
At the front and back of the machine, where operating personnel actually work, the safety light curtains PSENopt II provide the necessary access protection so that operators have an unobstructed view of the tools and workpieces during the pressing process. They have the operations safely in sight. Today, the long-serving but completely overhauled Bauer multi-stage press meets all the demands made of it – in terms of safety and specific production requirements.

• Retrofit to the latest safety requirements while maintaining production efficiency
• Pilz offers vendor-neutral engineering expertise in the field of safe automation
• A one-stop shop: Risk analysis, concept design, through to final validation

The Bauer Group, based in Styria, Austria, was founded in 1930 and employs around 890 people at 16 sites worldwide. The company manufactures irrigation and slurry products. In addition to the lever lock coupling, the product portfolio includes irrigation systems, slurry tanks and a wide range of separators, pumps and agitators. Bauer's solutions, produced using high-quality materials and precise manufacturing technology, are used in over 100 countries worldwide.